California college statistics
How colleges in California stack up on cost, graduate earnings, debt and value.
664
Colleges
$21,142
Avg net price as of 2024
$50,404
Median earnings as of 2024
$13,715
Median debt as of 2024
+21%
% strong ROI
California vs. the nation
ROI verdict mix
DR Rating grades
Students & representation
Average graduate earnings by gender, student-body diversity and origin across California colleges — from federal enrollment and IRS-linked earnings data.
Average earnings by gender
Women$46,042
Men$55,953
18% gap between the two groups
Who studies here
White 22%Hispanic 45%Asian 12%Black 9%Other 12%
Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.
75%
Students born in the U.S. (avg)
51%
First-generation students (avg)
Top colleges in California
1
Contra Costa College
San Pablo, CA · Public
$135,3745-yr earnings
$9,490net price/yr
+4,662%10-yr ROI
Strong returnView ROI
2
Skyline College
San Bruno, CA · Public
$75,2215-yr earnings
$1,738net price/yr
+4,247%10-yr ROI
Strong returnView ROI
3
Ohlone College
Fremont, CA · Public
$128,2485-yr earnings
$11,130net price/yr
+3,640%10-yr ROI
Strong returnView ROI
4
Mission College
Santa Clara, CA · Public
$77,6845-yr earnings
$5,080net price/yr
+3,117%10-yr ROI
Strong returnView ROI
5
College of the Sequoias
Visalia, CA · Public
$52,6785-yr earnings
$480net price/yr
+2,853%10-yr ROI
Strong returnView ROI
6
Foothill College
Los Altos Hills, CA · Public
$139,6825-yr earnings
$7,653net price/yr
+2,649%10-yr ROI
Strong returnView ROI
7
Allan Hancock College
Santa Maria, CA · Public
$73,8515-yr earnings
$5,383net price/yr
+2,580%10-yr ROI
Strong returnView ROI
8
Butte College
Oroville, CA · Public
$81,6275-yr earnings
$5,520net price/yr
+2,364%10-yr ROI
Strong returnView ROI
All California colleges National statistics
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.